1996–97 Washington Capitals season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1996–97
Year:	1996
Team:	Washington Capitals
Record:	33–40–9
Homerecord:	19–17–5
Roadrecord:	14–23–4
Conferencerank:	9th
Divisionrank:	5th
Goalsfor:	214
Goalsagainst:	231
Attendance:	15,761
Goalsleader:	Peter Bondra (46)
Assistsleader:	Dale Hunter (32)
Pointsleader:	Peter Bondra (77)
Pimleader:	Craig Berube (218)
Plusminusleader:	Sylvain Cote (+11)
Winsleader:	Jim Carey (17)
Gaaleader:	Olaf Kolzig (2.59)

The 1996–97 Washington Capitals season was the team's 23rd season of play. The Capitals finished fifth in the division, and ninth in the conference, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. It was their last full season playing at USAir Arena.

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|1||L||October 5, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||0–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|2||L||October 8, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||0–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|3||W||October 11, 1996||6–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|4||L||October 12, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||1–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|5||L||October 18, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||1–4–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|6||L||October 19, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||1–5–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|7||W||October 23, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||2–5–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|8||W||October 26, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||3–5–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|9||L||October 28, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||3–6–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|10||W||October 30, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||4–6–0 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|11||W||November 1, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||5–6–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|12||L||November 2, 1996||1–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–7–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|13||W||November 6, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||6–7–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|14||L||November 7, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||6–8–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|15||W||November 9, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||7–8–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|16||L||November 12, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||7–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|17||W||November 14, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||8–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|18||W||November 15, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||9–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|19||W||November 18, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–9–0 || |- align="center"|20||T||November 19, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||10–9–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|21||W||November 22, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||11–9–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|22||W||November 23, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||12–9–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|23||L||November 27, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||12–10–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|24||L||November 29, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||12–11–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|25||W||November 30, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||13–11–1 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|26||L||December 4, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||13–12–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|27||L||December 6, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||13–13–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|28||L||December 7, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||13–14–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|29||L||December 11, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||13–15–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|30||L||December 13, 1996||4–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–16–1 || |- align="center"|31||T||December 14, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||13–16–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|32||L||December 17, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||13–17–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|33||W||December 20, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||14–17–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|34||L||December 21, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||14–18–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|35||W||December 23, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||15–18–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|36||L||December 26, 1996||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||15–19–2 || |- align="center"|37||T||December 28, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||15–19–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|38||L||December 30, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||15–20–3 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|39||W||January 1, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||16–20–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|40||W||January 3, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||17–20–3 || |- align="center"|41||T||January 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||17–20–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|42||W||January 9, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||18–20–4 || |- align="center"|43||T||January 11, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||18–20–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|44||W||January 13, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||19–20–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|45||L||January 15, 1997||1–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||19–21–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|46||W||January 20, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||20–21–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|47||L||January 22, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||20–22–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|48||L||January 24, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||20–23–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|49||L||January 26, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||20–24–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|50||L||January 29, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||20–25–5 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|51||W||February 1, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||21–25–5 || |- align="center"|52||T||February 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||21–25–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|53||L||February 7, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||21–26–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|54||L||February 9, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||21–27–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|55||W||February 11, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||22–27–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|56||W||February 14, 1997||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||23–27–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|57||L||February 15, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||23–28–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|58||L||February 18, 1997||1–6 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||23–29–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|59||L||February 22, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||23–30–6 || |- align="center"|60||T||February 24, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||23–30–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|61||W||February 26, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||24–30–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|62||L||February 28, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||24–31–7 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|63||L||March 2, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||24–32–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|64||W||March 4, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||25–32–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|65||W||March 6, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||26–32–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|66||L||March 9, 1997||0–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||26–33–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|67||W||March 11, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||27–33–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|68||L||March 12, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||27–34–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|69||L||March 15, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||27–35–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|70||W||March 16, 1997||5–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||28–35–7 || |- align="center"|71||T||March 19, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||28–35–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|72||L||March 21, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||28–36–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|73||W||March 22, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–36–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|74||W||March 25, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||30–36–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|75||L||March 26, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||30–37–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|76||L||March 29, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||30–38–8 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|77||L||April 1, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||30–39–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|78||L||April 3, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||30–40–8 || |- align="center"|79||T||April 6, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||30–40–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|80||W||April 10, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||31–40–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|81||W||April 12, 1997||6–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||32–40–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|82||W||April 13, 1997||8–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||33–40–9 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.

	Regular season
	Player
12		RW	77	46	31	77	7	72
32		C	82	14	32	46	−2	125
22		LW	78	17	25	42	−3	67
90		C	58	15	27	42	−11	8
96		D	77	11	29	40	−10	24
55		D	57	13	17	30	−11	36
10		LW	77	10	14	24	4	33
3		D	57	6	18	24	11	28
20		C	54	7	16	23	−15	22
17		LW	42	9	13	22	−1	165
41		C	53	5	17	22	−3	25
13		C	59	7	14	21	5	30
6		D	65	6	11	17	−2	16
21		LW	47	5	11	16	−10	37
77		C	17	4	8	12	−2	4
18		LW	23	4	7	11	−3	12
2		D	80	3	8	11	−5	115
34		RW	19	7	3	10	−1	4
92		RW	13	5	5	10	0	31
29		D	65	1	8	9	8	107
24		D	56	2	6	8	3	118
36		C/LW	70	1	7	8	−4	42
27		LW	80	4	3	7	−11	218
33		RW	19	3	2	5	0	7
19		D	44	3	2	5	−20	88
26		RW	11	2	3	5	−2	13
44		RW	11	2	1	3	−5	4
23		C	38	1	2	3	0	130
28		D	25	1	1	2	1	20
30		G	18	0	1	1		7
45		D	1	0	0	0	0	0
30		G	40	0	0	0		2
37		G	29	0	0	0		4
9		D	2	0	0	0	0	2
4		D	6	0	0	0	2	2
14		C	4	0	0	0	1	4
16		C	6	0	0	0	−3	2

Goaltending

= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.

	Regular season
	Player
30		40	17	18	3	984	105	2.75	.893	1	2293
37		29	8	15	4	758	71	2.59	.906	2	1645
30		18	8	7	2	412	46	2.74	.888	0	1009

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Peter Bondra	^[1]
Dale Hunter	NHL All-Star Game selection		^[1]

Milestones

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.^[3]

Round		Player	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	4	Alexander Volchkov	Barrie Colts (OHL)
1	17	Jaroslav Svejkovsky	Tri-City Americans (WHL)
2	43	Jan Bulis	Barrie Colts (OHL)
3	58	Sergei Zimakov	Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
3	74	David Weninger	Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
3	78	Shawn McNeil	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
4	85	Justin Davis	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
5	126	Matt Lahey	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
6	153	A. J. Van Bruggen	Northern Michigan University (WCHA)
7	180	Michael Anderson	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
8	206	Oleg Orekhovsky	Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
9	232	Chad Cavanagh	London Knights (OHL)

References

Web site: Washington Capitals 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 22, 2023.
Web site: 1996-97 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 22, 2023.

Notes and References

Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997 . www.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: 1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Phil Housley . www.hockeydraftcentral.com . July 27, 2023 . Played in his 1,000th career NHL game for Washington on Oct. 30, 1996, vs. Philadelphia..
Web site: 1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 27, 2023.